New York Bight offshore wind plans move ahead

BOEM Director Amanda Lefton: “These two wind energy areas represent exciting progress toward having the first offshore wind lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico, where there is a mature industry base and the know how to advance energy development in the OCS.”

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) today announced it has completed its environmental review of potential impacts from offshore wind energy leasing activities in the New York Bight, a portion of the Atlantic Ocean located offshore New York and New Jersey.

The final Environmental Assessment (EA) assesses potential impacts from the issuance of leases within nearly 800,000 acres of wind energy areas in the New York Bight. Based on the analysis in the EA, BOEM has issued a finding of no significant impact (FONSI).

“The completion of this Environmental Assessment is an important step forward in advancing the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of increasing renewable energy development on federal lands and waters,” said BOEM Director Amanda Lefton. “BOEM is focused on ensuring that any development in the New York Bight is done responsibly and in a way that avoids or minimizes impacts to the ocean and other ocean users in the region.”

NOIA RESPONDS

“The completion of the environmental review of New York Bight offshore wind leasing, which found no significant impacts, means that two coastal states with massive populations and large economies are a step closer to new energy and economic opportunities,” commented National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) president Erik Milito. “Not only will a New York Bight offshore wind lease sale open a door to investment in New York and New Jersey—two states critical to the success of American offshore wind—but will support jobs and businesses throughout the U.S.”

“The release of the environmental analysis comes two days after the three-year anniversary of the most recent U.S. offshore wind lease,” continued Milito. That sale, for offshore Massachusetts, generated a ‘bidding bonanza,’ with $405 million in winning bids. We are just scratching the surface of what American offshore wind will achieve. NOIA applauds BOEM and encourages them to keep up the momentum so that critical investments have the certainty needed to support our supply chain, ports, and workers.”

See Milito discuss offshore wind permitting, regulations and more during a recent Marine Log Offshore Webcast.